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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-16-2003-7aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 16, 2003 Action Agenda Item No. 7-Q SUBJECT: NCDOT Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) Grant Funding DEPARTMENT: Transportation/OPT PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes ATTACHMENT(S): Rural Operating Assistance Program Certified Statement INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Passmore, ext. 2009 AI Terry, ext. 2002 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To hold a public hearing and to approve a FY 2003/04 Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) fund application for $108,150. BACKGROUND: The North Carolina Department of Transportation Public Transportation Division designates ROAP funds each fiscal year to Orange County. ROAP consolidates the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP), the Work First Transitional/Employment Transportation Assistance Program, and the Rural General Public (RGP) Program into a single application package. These ROAP funds allow Orange County to continue servicing the above-mentioned programs from July 2003 through June 2004. Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is the lead agency for public and human services agency transportation in rural Orange County and the recipient of the EDTAP allocation of $55,368 with no local match required. OPT will continue to use its allocation to provide medical transportation for the sixty-plus and disabled residents of Orange County. Additionally, OPT will offer one shopping/personal business round trip per week to those same two population groups who live outside the Chapel Hill Transit service area and do not have access to the Orange Express public shuttle. To the extent possible, trips will be grouped by geographic area per weekday and the destination will be to the closest possible provider. The "Orange Voucher Program", an effort that began being funded by EDTAP in 2000-2001, will continue to offer eligible disabled persons under the age 60 up to $100/month to pay for travel arrangements to meet the individuals' needs and to the destination(s) of their choice. This service is provided Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All EDTAP service recipients are asked to contribute three dollars per one-way trip. This fee is waived for any individual whose family income is at or below 125% of the poverty level as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. Contributions are utilized to fund additional trips. With an allocation of $10,111, Orange Public Transportation provides former Work First participants or other low-income persons certified for Medicaid or Food Stamps with a maximum of $300 per year to assist with employment-related transportation. For vehicle owners, the funds may be used for repairs and/or insurance. For non-vehicle owners, the funds may assist with the purchase of bus passes, van/car pool expenses, or possibly a vehicle donated to the Wheels For Work Program. 2 OPT has provided general public transportation on aseat-available basis for several years. In FY 1993/94, OPT program staff and the Human Services Transportation Board made a commitment to better serve the public by (1) changing the program's name from Coordinated Agency Transportation to its current Orange Public Transportation title; and (2) designating existing bus routes to be promoted as public routes. Additionally, the Orange Enterprise routes have been opened to the general public on aseat-available basis for early morning and late afternoon transportation between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Finally, the five routes operated to transport seniors to the Senior Centers and nutrition sites in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Hillsborough, Efland, and Cedar Grove have available seating for public passengers. The FY 2003/04 allocation of $42,671 will support these routes. FINANCIAL IMPACT: During the FY 2003-04 budget deliberation process, the County had not received notification from the State of its proposed ROAP allocation for FY 2003-04. Based on the previous year's amount, Orange Public Transportation (OPT) budgeted $95,568. Since the budget approval, the department has received official notification from the State regarding Orange County's allocation of $108,150 for FY 2003-04. These increased funds of $12,582 will be included in a future budget amendment ordinance for the Board of County Commissioners consideration. The ROAP grant funds require no local match. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board conduct the public hearing, approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds ($108,150) for FY 2003/04, and authorize the Chair to sign the Certified Statement of Participation. State of North Carolina County of APPENDIX A CERTIFIED STATEMENT FY 2003 - 2004 RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Whereas Article 2B of Chapter 136 of the North Carolina General Statutes and the Governor of North Carolina have designated the North Carolina Department of Transportation as the agency responsible for administering all federal and/or state programs related to public transportation, and grants the department authority to do all things required in applicable federal and/or state legislation to properly administer the public transportation programs within the State of North Carolina; WHEREAS, G.S. 136-44.27 established the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program; WHEREAS, funds will be used for transportation related expenditures as specified in the FY 2003 - 2004 Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) application; WHEREAS, information regarding use of the funds will be provided at such time and in such a manner as the department may require; WHEREAS, ROAP funds will be used to provide eligible services during the period July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004; WHEREAS, any interest earned on ROAP funds will be expended for eligible program uses as specified in the ROAP application; and WHEREAS, the County will include ROAP funds received and expended in its annual independent audit on the schedule of federal and state financial assistance. Funds passed through to other agencies will be identified as such. This is certify that the undersigned is duly elected, qualified and acting chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners of the County of and that the following statements are true and accurate: North Carolina, Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program 1. The funds received from G.S. 136-44.27 will be used to provide additional transportation services for the elderly and disabled, exceeding the quantity of trips provided prior to receipt of the funds. 2. The funds will not be used to supplant or replace existing federal, state or local funds designated to provide elderly and disabled transportation services in the county. 3. The funds received will be used in a manner consistent with the local Transportation Development Plan (TDP) or Community Transportation Services Plan (CTSP) and application approved by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Board of Commissioners. Work First Transitional/Employment Transportation Assistance Program 1. The purpose of these transportation funds is to support transitional transportation needs of Work First participants after eligibility for cash assistance has concluded and/other specified general public employment transportation needs. The funds maybe transferred to the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program or the Rural General Public Program if not needed for Work First transportation. 2. The funds are limited to use by the designated local entity(s) specified in the ROAP application, or any revisions or amendments thereto. Rural General Public Program 1. The funds will be used in a manner consistent with the Rural General Public Transportation Project Description. 2. The funds will be used to provide non-human service trips. WITNESS my hand and official seal, this day of Attest: Certifying Official State of North Carolina County 20 Board of County Commissioners Chairperson* County Manager/Administrator* *Note that the signatures on this statement should be those of three (3) separate individuals.